Thursday, September 21, 2017

When was the last time you had an honest-to-goodness real chocolatey experience? Mine was earlier this year when I visited my Spanish grandfather (well technically, the cousin of) in Makati. He had their househelp serve us a thick and warm cup of chocolate paired with ensaimada. Gosh, it was the best chocolate I've ever tasted.

The word "BEST" came to my mind as soon as a piece of Hiraya chocolate hit my tastebuds.

Last September 9, 2017 at Roots Katipunan, Bloggers Philippines group was introduced to Hiraya Filipino Bean-to-Bar Chocolates!

Since I am a huge chocolate addict, I cherished this occasion (and more so the chocolate bars that they generously have us sample). I love how yummy chocolate is, and the fact that it has a host of health benefits!

Hiraya Artisan Chocolate Founder Arvin Peralta giving us a talk.

During this event, we learned about the background of the company, the products, and they also taught us how to appreciate chocolate using the 5 senses- sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste.

How to Use our 5 Senses to Taste Chocolates:

1. Sight - check the condition of the surface of the chocolate, it should be shiny.
2. Smell - the chocolate should smell rich and full.
3. Hearing - make sure the chocolate is stored in ideal conditions, break the chocolate in half, and you should be able to hear a clear and sharp snapping sound, the edges should also break cleanly.
4. Touch - the chocolate should also start melting in your hand because the fat content of chocolate (cocoa butter) melts at our body temperature.
5. Taste - pinch your nose first to trap the aromatics. Place a piece of chocolate in your mouth, let it melt and swirl it on all areas of your tongue and mouth (front, back, center, top, bottom and around the tongue) so that all areas of your mouth will be able to pick up the different flavors. Un-pinch your nose, and inhale deeply to let the aromatics hit your olfactory nerves, and note any flavors that remind you of. And finally taste the chocolate and again, note any flavors that you may find. (Flavors are usually floral aromatic, bitter, nutty, or fruity.)

HIRAYA CHOCOLATE ORIGINS

The brand name comes from the ancient Filipino phrase "Hiraya Manawari" which can be loosely translated as a deep and sincere wish for the desires of your heart to be granted. The word Hiraya in itself means the "fruit of one's hopes, dreams, and aspirations."

Hiraya is a Filipino bean-to-bar chocolate company that makes single-origin chocolate bars and chocolate products from cacao beans sourced around the Philippines. They started in 2015.

Hiraya Artisan Chocolates, Inc. as a manufacturer, is Professional Chocolatier from Ecole Chocolat (Certified Chocolate Maker).

HIRAYA CHOCOLATE COMMUNITY

Hiraya is an advocate of sustainable, socially-conscious practices and fair trade principles. They take pride in having a direct relationship with their cacao farmers, to ensure that they earn more for their labor and to improve the quality of their lives.

Currently, their beans are sourced from Malabog, Paquibato District, Davao, but they are always on the lookout for quality beans across the Philippines.

HIRAYA CHOCOLATE PRICE

Currently, all their chocolate bars are 70g at Php 200 per bar, except 72% Single-Origin Dark Chocolate Bar, which retails at Php 180 per 85g.

EXQUISITE TASTE OF ARTISAN CHOCOLATE

Hiraya will be appreciated by a REAL chocolate lover. It's not a watered down, or in this case, sugared down chocolate candy version. Hiraya chocolate has pure unadulterated chocolate goodness and you really taste the cacao.

There are Hiraya chocolate variants that are ideal for vegans, and they are perfect for those on a ketogenic diet.

Clockwise from Left: Hiraya X Kalsada 72% Dark Chocolate with Coffee Nibs Single Origin,72% Single-Origin Dark Chocolate Bar, Hiraya Chicharon, Hiraya Queso de Bola,Hiraya Coconut.
One can see that each of the chocolate looks different, there is a matte and shiny, there is a light and dark brown. But yeah, wouldn't you agree they look mouthwatering? They melt a few seconds upon contact with the warmth of my fingertips, the luscious darkness that they are.

My personal favorite Hiraya chocolate? Quese de Bola since I love cheese! Coconut comes in a close second.

Hiraya Artisan Chocolates is available online and in brick and mortar stores, including Foodsourceph, Shopinas, Marketa store, Bigbenta, Robinson's Galleria grocery, Roots Katipunan and soon in SM Kultura! Check them out in www.hirayachocolates.com/ or www.facebook.com/HirayaChocolates!

Chocolate has been considered by many as a luxury. Give in and indulge in the heavenly Hiraya Artisan Chocolates while helping uplift the livelihood of fellow Pinoys. Support local! Thanks for reading! :)

Hello po! Frens, a hobby of mine is browsing in online shops and window shopping in bazaars or tiangges. And I also go to the malls in Divisoria too y'know. Of course, hindi naman hanggang tingin. Bumibili din ang lola mo if I spot something I like. Now I noticed that there's quite a lot of sellers of Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel.

Nature Republic 92% Aloe Vera Gel is a big hit. The aloe vera used comes from certified organic farmers in California (CCOF). It is ideal even for folks with sensitive skin. One can use it for the face and body, or anywhere you like, haha!

But there is also some news about people suffering from troubles 'coz of using the fake ones. Don't compromise your health, frens!

So out of curiosity, this beauty blogger has bought Nature Republic 92% Aloe Vera Gel from Althea Korea (priced at Php 180 for a 300ml tub, made in Korea) and without a shadow of a doubt we all know that this site only sells authentic goods. Now I wanna share with you how to get the real deal.

Let's check out my original Nature Republic Aloe Vera gel tub here:

1. Buy from authorized Nature Republic store / boutique or from a trusted seller who offers original stuff.

2. The price should not be suspiciosuly cheap (too good to be true).

3. It should be sealed.

4. The front label should have some holographic shiny details of the gel drops.

6. "NATURE REPUBLIC" should be embossed around the tub cover and also around the bottom.

7. Check for any discrepancy in the bottom label. The original should be like this:

8. Fragrant. Upon opening, you should immediately be greeted by the refreshing scent of the aloe vera gel.

9. The consistency should be like a firm gel- it is neither thick nor runny. Color is transparent.

10. Effective. This feels cool and soothes the skin. Very light and absorbs quickly. Also has moisturizing and firming properties. Lemme say, I am suffering from some rashes recently, and within a few seconds of application, the itchies have subsided!

I actually have a pot of aloe vera planted, but I like the convenience of this one, hehehe!

So there you go. Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel is a very popular aloe vera gel product and lots of people swear by it for a myriad of uses, mostly for skin care. Have you tried it? Comment down below. :)

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Hello po! Frens, I know that we girls (and men too) love to be pampered and groomed. It's great not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to boost one's health and well-being. It's one of the best rewards in life.

One of my pet peeves though is that when me and the hubby feel like getting a haircut or manicure, the salon is already closing for the night! Or if it is still early and we want a massage, the spa will only be open much later in the afternoon!

Now I am happy to discover that there is a salon that operates 24/7. Last September 6, 2017 was the Soft opening and Blessing of the second branch of Rainbow Dream Spa / Salon / Nails.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Rainbow Dream Spa got its name thus:
Personal reasons, rainbow comes after the storm in life, and it can also denote that since rainbow has many colors with different meanings behind each, when a client comes in feeling heavy, he or she will step out of the spa / salon, happy and light, aura na.

TOUR INSIDE RAINBOW DREAM SPA/SALON/NAILS ESPANA!

Hair and makeup (4 stations)

I spied that some of the tools were Toni&Guy, plus it is said that their makeup is also high-end, with Mac, Max Factor and Naked as some of the cosmetics available. The 2 senior stylists also have more than 20 years experience, one in a local luxury salon and the other overseas in KSA. Hair products are by Elgon.

Shampoo area

Hallway (there's a total of 9 rooms)

Massage room (couple room also available). They claim that their massage therapists are certified and licensed.

The advantage when you are lying on a mattress on the floor is that the masseuse can apply her FULL pressure, unlike if you are on a bed.

Atty. Arlene's personal faves are Olaplex (hottest and newest in Hollywood, it is like a treatment that you mix with the solutions like hair bleach, color, perming, etc) and Gelish gel dip (no fuss and no mess, it fills the gap between gel and acrylic nails. This is the latest, as the name implies, you 'dip' your nails, and there is no need for UV light).

In this one session, this is the cm I lost: U- from 74 to 72, M- from 86 to 81, and L from 95 to 94.

MANICURE
Since my pedi was still fresh, I opted for a mani with color only. Sayang hindi ko nagamit yung lababo for foot spa, haha!
The salon's pink throne chair is pretty!
Rainbow Dream's polish brands include Gelish, Orly, Zoya, Ruby Wing.
It is also nice that their Manicure includes massage and they sanitize tools.

OLAPLEX SYSTEM
Olaplex done that day was 2 steps only- Bond Multiplier and Bond Perfector (the third, Hair Perfector, is supposed to be a take home product).

Procedure:
1st step, the golden liquid is applied, after a few minutes comes the 2nd step, white cream is utilized. Leave on then rinse. Blowdry and style...

The stylist had declared that my hair is relatively healthy, only a bit dry. What will benefit is my bleached hair at the ends.

Top pic: Madam has 42 years experience. She is Beauty Lane's trainor, and formerly with Wella. I like her hairstyle which she cut herself, so hip! Bottom pic: Junior stylist who is courteous.

After this treatment, my hair became shiny, soft and there was lesser hair fall... But you will really appreciate its results with severely damaged hair. One blogger had fly aways, split ends, brittle and frizzy bleached blonde hair. In short, it's kinda 'deads', but after, it was sooo beautiful. It looked straight, shiny, healthy, and the color looked renewed! I felt J.Lo vibes looking at her tresses!

With the CEO, Atty. Arlene De Castro. Yes, she is in the law profession, but she is also a beauty and wellness enthusiast, and this is her passion. Father said that we look similar, like sisters. Whatcha think?

Thanks Rainbow Dream, Beauty Lane Phils and K Ross Fragrances!

Rainbow Dream also accepts spa parties and home service. For more info or to book an appointment, please call 251-7614 / 0933-8551226 / 0956-5020602. @ Rainbowdreamspa is also on FB and IG!

For luxurious treatments at a reasonable price with the convenience of being a one-stop shop with 'round the clock store hours, come visit Rainbow Dream Spa! Turn your beauty and pampering dream into a reality now! Thanks for reading! :)

Hello po! I was ecstatic to receive Althea Box Number 26- Beauty Lifeguard!!! It has what we want- WONDERFUL MAKEUP!!!!!

Althea Korea puts together curated boxes with a theme and it comes in a mind-blowing cheap price that is almost impossible to resist! It's a big hit and gets sold out quite fast. Plus, if you are lucky enough, you can even add some FREE giveaway item. But you guys already know that right?
Now that I have used it in the course of a month, here are my thoughts!

PRICE:

For just Php 1,100 we get all these 5 waterproof goodies in the box with free delivery. The original price is Php 5,050 so it's 78% OFF. Such big savings! For that cost, it's like I just bought one cushion in a local shop here and everything else it came with was free, haha!

MANUFACTURER:

All items are authentic and made in Korea.

Sealed!!!

Beauty Lifeguard box CLAIMS:

Keep your makeup on through all the splashing, hot fun!
-Stay fresh and matte all day with a waterproof formula.
-No budge eye makeup even through heat or water.
-Kiss-proof color.

Now, it is already rainy and typhoon season here in the Philippines, but this box is still appreciated as days are still humid! Plus, those who like to save money on travel still go to beaches this time of the year to avail of off-peak discounted rates.

ALTHEA KOREA BEAUTY LIFEGUARD BOX CONTENTS AND REVIEW:

TONYMOLY X O!Oi BCDation Waterproof Cushion in 02 Warm Beige

I love the subtle scent of this bcdation cushion, like a sweet banana. Plus it gives light to medium coverage and brightens skin. It lends a a soft matte and not an overly dewy finish.

No breakouts with this.

It has sunscreen so I don't apply a separate sunblock on my face anymore.

Established in 2011 by designer Yeseul Jung, O!Oi is based in Seoul, Korea. This street brand pursues interesting, witty, new and refreshing design.

TONYMOLY BCDation Waterproof Cushion (O!Oi Edition)

WANGSKIN LIP TATTOO

It has a distinct smell that I cannot pinpoint- definitely not flowery or candy- almost like citrus?

I am happy that it came in my fave color, pink.

To use, I let it dry and leave it on for about 15 minutes and peel it off. A tip to know if it is dry is to purse lips together, and when they are sticky and peeling off then it is the right time to remove. (For bolder color, leave it on longer before peeling off.)

I felt a warm, tingling sensation on my lips upon application as it dries. After I have peeled it off, it's weightless, like I have nothing on my lips. It is pigmented and lasts from AM to PM and thru meals (but it depends also on what and how many times I ate and drink).

Does not transfer when dry.

Even though it is long wearing, it did not make my lips dry or chapped!

WANGSKIN LIP TATTOO Pink

VDL EXPERT COLOR PRIMER FOR EYES in Serenity

The color is like periwinkle or light blue/lavender. It neutralizes dull yellow or sallowness (not redness) and makes skin brighter.

Makes eyeshadow color appear more vivid, long lasting and does not cake on the crease.

VDL EXPERT COLOR PRIMER FOR EYES in Serenity

MILKYDRESS BARBIE MAKE MASCARA

Build it up for lashes that are sooo long and voluminous yet it feels light, doesn't smudge or melt when wet. Also great curl holding power.

When I wash my face with cleanser i can pull it off like it is a film or fiber mascara.

Reminiscent of my HG Japanese brand mascara at a fraction of the cost.

The wand brush is curved.

Brownie points coz the tube is rose gold, nyohoho!

MILKYDRESS BARBIE MAKE MASCARA

HOLIKA HOLIKA FACE CONDITIONER

Holika Holika's long lasting make up fixer is used to seal it all in! It is both a priming and setting spray. It has beneficial ingredients like western rose water, crown and birch sap, lotus and lemon extract.

Gives a dewy glow.

Lovely fragrance!

Plus points as it comes in a large bottle (100ml) which can last a long time.

HOLIKA HOLIKA FACE CONDITIONER Long Lasting Make up Fixer

ARM SWATCH TEST

Before pouring water, while the VDL is unblended and the Wangskin is not yet peeled off.
TonyMoly Number 02 shade is very compatible and blended seamlessly with my skin tone!

After VDL is blended and Wangskin peeled off, I poured water. The products seem to resist and even repel water. Then, I washed with soap and rubbed my arm. As you can see, the products still seem to stay put except the mascara which did not melt or smudge but formed to bits.

FACE TEST:

I used everything in the Beauty Lifeguard box, and I added eyebrow powder, eyeshadow, eyeliner, contour powder, and setting powder (Althea Petal Velvet Powder). I wanted to use this while swimming but the opportunity to frolic in a pool or beach did not come by.

So anyway, I splashed my face 4 times with water. The makeup does not budge! Only a couple of mascara flakes fell off which is easy to remove. It is still much better than other mascaras that completely melt in the water leaving you with raccoon eyes!

Waterproof test!

LONGEVITY TEST:

Matte all day! When I put it in the morning, I notice that by evening my face is not greasy as before (believe me, I have oily, pimple prone skin!) While for the lips, the color is long-wearing and some color is left at night, but it will still depend on how many times or what you ate/drank.

Yas! No shine! In the 4PM pic, I am already in the train station but I haven't peeled off the Wangskin since I wanna make it stay long. The longer you leave it on, the better, the more lasting! BTW my eyeshadow here is W.Lab in Blooming.

SUGGESTION:

I hope the cushion came with an extra puff. Also, this box would have been utterly purr-fect had it come with an eyebrow product, because as most Pinays would say, "kilay (eyebrow)is life!" But hey for the price, we ain't complaining!

Applying makeup is therapeutic! Like a ritual, hehehe!

CONCLUSION:

Althea Korea Beauty Lifeguard box lives up to its name! Saves your makeup from disastrous meltdown! Whether sweating it out or getting wet, one can depend on these makeup to stay put. I am very happy with the performance and would definitely recommend this!

If you are like me who likes long-lasting makeup and hates retouching every now and then, or if you also can't go swimming without makeup on (I don't wanna look like a floating, splashing zombie hahaha), better grab one of Althea Korea's Beauty Lifeguard box!!! Click HERE for additional Php 200 discount. Thanks for reading! :)

Friday, September 8, 2017

Hello po! My mom has extra sensitive and allergy-prone skin (good thing I did not inherit it because it's difficult), and one of the products that I remember that she uses is Cetaphil!

It was Thursday, the first day of their week-long event, when I shared with the kind followers of my humble blog to drop by SM Makati 'coz they are giving away samples to passers-by in their booth! Every purchase allows even more freebies! In HERE is my FB post!

Cetaphil, the Science of Gentle. Cetaphil is the most prescribed brand of cleansers and moisturizers by Dermatologists and Pediatricians in the Philippines.

Various Cetaphil products are on display, available for purchase or you may try the testers.

August 24 Pop Up Store Opening
August 25 Cleansing and Moisturizing the Right Way
August 26 Skin care and Make up How They Go Hand in Hand
August 27 A Tribute to Mothers
August 28 Neonatal Baby Care
August 29 Atopic Dermatitis Awareness Day
August 30 Design Your Own Cetaphil

Now I was fortunate enough that I was invited to the last day of the Cetaphil celebration! We designed our own bottles that we got to take home!

The day's hosts were the bloggers behind Plump, a body positivity website, Danah and Stacy Gutierrez.

It was so fun to just let our creative juices flow and DIY our Cetaphil bottles with various tapes and stickers! Medyo naging competitive ako as I made tadtad mine with design, hahaha! Here is the work by yours truly.

Hello po! One of the advantages of having a credit card, aside of the convenience of cashless transactions, are the freebies and deals that come with it. And speaking of awesome perks, here's what's in store when you are an RCBC Bankard Mastercard cardholder!!!

RCBC Bankard and Mastercard officials revealed exciting info as new and existing cardholders can avail of triple exclusive offers this season!!!

As RCBC Bankard FVP and Marketing Group Head Angela Mirasol shared, "We believe that cardholders should get more every time they use their RCBC Bankard Mastercard. On top of the generous rewards points that they earn, the unparalleled flexible payment terms through Unli 0% and the peace of mind that they get through Spend Monitor, these exciting offers will make everyday shopping more rewarding and potentially exhilarating!"

Awesome treats! Clients can shop their way to winning a New York Holiday, score a a FREE SM Gift Pass or MANGO Gift Card!!!

Top 3 RCBC Bankard Mastercard Awesome Perks and Mechanics:

1. WIN a New York Holiday
- A lucky RCBC Bankard Mastercard cardholder can spend a priceless holiday with a loved one at the Big Apple! The winning package includes free roundtrip tickets for 2 to NYC, 4D and 3N accommodation at a luxury hotel, a guided city tour, and VIP seats to a Broadway show! From August 18 to October 18, 2017, every minimum single-receipt purchase of Php 2,000 automatically earns a cardholder an electronic raffle entry!

3. FREE MANGO Gift Card
- Enjoy a new wardrobe at MANGO!!! All NEW RCBC Bankard Gold, Black, Diamond, World and MANGO cardholders to receive a complimentary MANGO Gift Card worth Php 2,000 if they make a Php 20,000 single or accumulated spend anywhere using their newly-issued premium RCBC Bankardc Mastercard WITHIN 60 DAYS from date of issuance. Offer period is from September 1 to November 30, 2017.

RCBC Bankard Services Corporation (RBSC) is the Card Servicing entity of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), one of the largest private universal banks in the Philippines, and both are members of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC).

For more details or to get one, simply call 888-1-888 or log on to www.RCBCBankard.com.

'Ber months and gift giving season is around, complete your shopping list by dipping your RCBC Bankard Mastercard to get instant prizes and who knows, you just might be shopping your way to winning a fabulous Big Apple December Holiday!!!

Isn't it so much more rewarding when you flash or swipe an RCBC Bankard Mastercard? Thanks for reading! :)

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Hello po! I remember when I was a new grad back then. I sought the help of Jobstreet to help me land a job! I love that instead of spending so much on printing resumes, traveling from office to office, I can just send online my CV to companies that I am interested in! So easy and convenient, right?

JobStreet.com is a leading online job board presently covering employment markets. It's the number 1 job site here in the Philippines, and it is also present in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. It currently services over 230,000 corporate hirers and over 15 million jobseekers in its database!

Last August 30, 2017 at the Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila, JobStreet.com released the results of its Top Companies 2017 survey. This year, there are new entrants in the top 10, changing the face of the annual list.

For the first time, utilities firms (that's Meralco and PLDT) have broken into the list!

Here is the result of the survey for Jobstreet's 2017 Top Companies Most Filipino Workforce Aspire to Work For:

1. Meralco
- The electric distribution company is the overall top preferred company of jobseekers!
(Top factor: Job security)

10. Unilever
- Consumer goods multinational which was last seen in the 2015 list
(Top factor: Multinational company)

Recognition expands to other strong employer brands

The Top Companies Report, now on its fourth edition, is expanding to give out special awards to category and regional winners. These companies are bring recognized for their strong performance in their respective categories and areas.

Regional awardees this year include Bank of the Philippine Islands for Central Luzon, Shell companies in the Philippines for CALABARZON, and Aboitiz for Central Visayas.

In the BPO category, winners are Convergys Philippines, IBM Business Services, and JPMorgan Chase Bank.

For the corporate category, awardees include SM Investments Corporation, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, and Shell companies in the Philippines.

Job security matters more this time

Part of Jobstreet.com’s survey on which companies they aspire to be a part of is the question why they want to work in these firms. Last year’s survey showed that a competitive basic salary is the primary reason when choosing a firm to work for, whereas the candidates asked this year indicated that job security is the foremost reason for their consideration.

These choices indicate that professional Filipinos are more interested in the long-term gains, as factors that directly affect their professional lives such as career growth offerings and promotion, and career-enhancing training and development opportunities. A strong leadership team that can mentor them in their professional trajectory are now more preferred, making it in the top 5 attributes of an aspirational company.

A total of 3,658 respondents participated in this year’s series of surveys that were sent out in May 2017. The respondents came from different position levels (predominantly junior executives and fresh graduates) and represented various specializations.

Top Companies, A SEEK Asia Perspective

About SEEK Asia

JobStreet.com is part of SEEK Asia, which is the leading online employment market place in Asia. SEEK Asia covers 7 countries namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

SEEK Asia is the extension of the Australian Securities Exchange listed company called SEEK. The company’s purpose is to help improve people’s lives through a better career. SEEK Asia’s database consist of over 500,000 corporate hirers and over 24 million candidates.

Did your dream company make it to Jobstreet.com's list of Top Ten Companies Filipinos Prefer to Work In? Comment down below! Thanks for reading! :)

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About Me

Hi, welcome everyone! I'm just
a simple, shy Filipino-Chinese/Spanish girl in her early 30s. Loves
nature, animals and chocolate. Fond of reading, traveling and dreaming. Was a consistent honor student
and college scholar. Studied Communication Arts and Fine Arts but graduated with a degree in BSBA Major in Management. Civil Service Exam passer. Member, Legio Mariae.

I love challenges and I always try to excel in everything I do and give my best.

Thank you please visit again!

i want to travel the world

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The posts expressed herein are solely my fallible opinion; or taken from a company's statements for the purpose of joining in their promotion (contest or press release.)

While I strive to provide accurate information, this may not be free from errors, but in no way malicious. Some may be a result of my perception/imagination, based on my personal experience/observation. The feedback are my fearless and honest reviews as a consumer.

Proceed with caution when following any tip or advice, as there is no 100% guarantee it will work and is safe.

I will not be held responsible for any damage incurred.

All contents herein are my- Denise Sarmiento aka pisceanrat- intellectual property, unless otherwise stated, and may not be taken from this site without my express authorization/permission or link to this site.